Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Human Services and Health, to which was referred S.B. No. 2325 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to allow licensed physicians who treat QUEST medical plan patients who suffer from acquired immune deficiency syndrome or hepatitis C, or who need transplant immunosuppressives, to prescribe federally approved medications without having to comply with any preauthorization procedure under the medicaid preauthorization exemption law.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from Department of Human Services, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, State Advisory Board on HCV, and two individuals. Comments were received from the Hawaii Medical Service Association.

Deletion of the QUEST medical plans exemption would provide equal access when it comes to providing open, unrestricted access to medications for medicaid clients who suffer from human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or hepatitis C, or who need immunosuppressives as a result of organ transplants, regardless of whether they are in the medicaid fee-for-service or the medicaid QUEST programs.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Human Services and Health that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2325 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.